The Rise of Climate Change
By kristine zheng | Sept. 1, 2026
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (SCPDA) — Over the past few decades, climate crises have been commonly seen across the world; from heatwaves and wildfires to rising temperatures and drier conditions, these circumstances have caused higher risks to the ecosystems and human health. Our environment's lasting consequences burden the students and faculty of Stanton College Preparatory School, who come from communities all over Jacksonville and surrounding areas. As our population fails to create better habits and make modifications, our society can see a negative decline further into the decades.
“The [temperature] today is 104 [degrees] and with the air conditioning not working, it has been making our classes so humid,” junior Saanvi Vaddiparti said. “[Climate change] is an important factor in our world. Especially with wildfires and hot temperatures, it is not good for the environment.”
The current atmospheric carbon dioxide is proven to be 50% higher than it was prior to the Industrial Revolution according to an article published on May 21, 2025, by Rebecca Lindsey from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Our planet becomes warmer as carbon dioxide increases, which can be harmful alongside other alterations. Significant changes in the climate have proven to disrupt the quality of our ecosystem with communities heavily impacted by environmental degradation. Living in an urban area like Jacksonville, residents are exposed to aspects such as toxic waste, water contamination, and air pollution. According to an article published on July 30, 2026, by NOAA, climate change is no longer considered a problem for the future, but something that affects our ecosystem and people today. Temperature patterns have influenced the way Stanton students dress up for school as seasons change.
“I’ve definitely worn a lot looser clothing such as plain t-shirts and shorts rather than jeans [in the summertime],” senior Kylie Aquino said. “Recently in the winter months I have also been wearing more loose [clothing] because we are in Florida and it's a warmer type of winter.”
Students at Stanton endure the hot days in Florida on campus, often wearing baggier clothing and keeping miniature fans to stay cool throughout the day. According to an article published on June 9, 2026, by the United States Environmental Protection Agency, human contributions to greenhouse gases have been the main source of climate change since the beginning of the 20th century. The expanding level of carbon dioxide emissions has caused temperature levels to increase throughout the decades with the amount of fossil fuels being burned. The changes in temperatures have been encountered by students and faculty in their everyday lives. As rising weather conditions intensify, sports have also been affected in recent athletic seasons.
“[Our athletic department] has a rule with lightning within ten miles. We are unable to go out for about thirty minutes after the last strike,” Athletic Director Coach Chris Crider said. “Sometimes games can be canceled if we think in advance that we won't be able to get the game in. [In other cases], we will have to just wait for it out [and hope that] we can start at a decent time.
The increasing number of harsh weather conditions plays a role in the consideration of opening and closing school hours. In recent years, Duval County Public Schools have closed all public schools on multiple occasions, most recently in August 2024 due to Hurricane Debby. They also closed schools because of Hurricane Helen in September and, two weeks later, Hurricane Milton in October. In the past year, Jacksonville has been facing heavy droughts, making some worry about their access and restrictions on water. According to statistics released on April 16, 2026, by the National Integrated Drought Information System, 100% of residents living in Duval County are affected by the droughts.
“The temperatures have been changing throughout the years. I feel like summers have been getting hotter, but winters have been getting colder, like last year when it almost snowed here,” sophomore Ana Escamilla-Aguirre said. “[Climate change] has limited how much [athletes] can practice for their sport. For example, cross country, they cannot practice as much because it is so hot and it could be a health issue.”
Stanton students face continuous shifts with the weather; they also experience effects from poor air quality. According to an article published on April 10, 2025, by the National Academy of Medicine, air pollution is connected to health impairments such as developing respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, allergies, and asthma, while worsening those who already bear these conditions. Students who already suffer from health issues may face difficulty due to air pollution as they go about their day, such as irritating airways, causing allergic reactions, and medical conditions.
“When I used to have asthma, it was harder for me to breathe [on hotter days],” junior Alex Roa said. “I would use medicine, but being outside was hard for me.”
As climate challenges become normalized within our communities, the student body learns to adapt to the changes throughout the school year. With climate change seen at Stanton, it is essential for students to respond and act on this issue. Future generations depend on society today to discover additional ways to protect the state of our planet from further weakening.